What to Check the Moment You Arrive at a Farmhouse

The first fifteen minutes at a farmhouse are the only window in which a problem is the host's problem rather than yours. A cracked tile, a dead AC, a pool that is cloudier than the photos, a missing gas cylinder: raise it now with a photo on WhatsApp and it gets fixed or noted. Raise it at checkout and you are negotiating about a deposit. So before the bags come out of the car and the kids find the pool, one person does a quick walk-through with their phone.

This is that walk-through: a room-by-room list of what to check, what to photograph, and what to ask the caretaker while they are still standing next to you. It takes about a quarter of an hour at a typical Moinabad farmhouse and saves far more than that.

Why photograph, and what the photos are for

Deposits, where a farmhouse takes one, are refunded after checkout against damage. Hosts are fair in our experience, but memory is not: nobody will recall at 11 am tomorrow whether the scratch on the dining table was there yesterday. Time-stamped photos settle it in a second. Send a short album to the host or caretaker on WhatsApp as you go: "Just noting these on arrival." It is not an accusation; it is housekeeping, and most hosts appreciate it.

The 15-minute walk-through

At the gate and parking

• Does the gate lock, and who holds the key overnight?
• Where does the caretaker stay, and what is their number? Save it immediately.
• Is the parking where you expected, and can all your cars get in and turn around?

Power and water

• Ask what the backup covers: lights only, fans, or AC too. Village cuts are common and this changes your evening.
• Where is the inverter or generator switch, and does the caretaker handle it or do you?
• Run a tap in each bathroom; check hot water works where it is promised (a geyser switch is often in an odd place).
• Is there drinking water, and is it included or an extra?

Bedrooms

• Switch on every AC for a minute. A unit that only blows warm air is a first-hour conversation, not a midnight one.
• Count beds and mattresses against your headcount; ask for extras now if you were promised them.
• Look at linen, check for existing stains or tears, and photograph anything you notice.
• Test the lights, fans and plug points; note any that do not work.
• Check windows close and have mesh, which matters more than you think for mosquitoes after dark.

Bathrooms

• Flush, drain, shower, geyser: thirty seconds each.
• Photograph any cracked fitting or broken seat.
• Toilet paper, bucket and mug, bin: ask what is provided and what you should have packed.

Kitchen

• Gas cylinder connected and with enough in it; light the stove to be sure.
• Fridge cold and running; if the backup does not cover it, plan your ice box.
• Count the big vessels, plates and glasses you will rely on, and note what is chipped.
• Ask what kitchen use is allowed; kitchen access and rules differ by farmhouse.

Pool and lawn

• Look at the water: clear to the bottom is the standard. Cloudy or green, raise it now, not after the swim.
• Check steps, railing and deck tiles for loose or broken pieces, and photograph any broken tiles.
• Ask the pool rules: closing time, no glass, is night swimming allowed, are the pool lights working.
• Walk the lawn edge for open drains, loose wires or a well, especially if you have toddlers.
• Test the outdoor speaker if one is included, and confirm the outdoor music cut-off time.

Games and add-ons

• Box-cricket net, bats, balls, carrom, board games: see that what was listed is actually there.
• Any add-on you paid for, such as a barbecue setup, bonfire, or a cook, confirm the timing with the caretaker.

What to raise immediately versus note quietly

Keep the tone easy. A message that says "AC in room 2 is not cooling, could someone take a look?" gets a technician; a message that starts with the deposit does not.

Three questions for the caretaker before they leave

1. "If the power goes at night, what do we do?"
2. "Where is the nearest shop and does it stay open late?" Shops near the villages are small; this tells you whether to send someone to Moinabad town now.
3. "What time do you want us out tomorrow and what should the house look like?" Checkout times and expectations vary by farmhouse; hearing it on day one avoids a rushed morning.

Then put the phone down

Once the album is sent and the caretaker has answered, the inspection is over. You are not auditing the place; you are protecting your deposit and catching the two or three things that are fixable now. The rest of the day belongs to the pool.

Before you even arrive

Much of this is easier if you read the house rules on the farmhouse page beforehand and know what the booking included, which the booking guide explains. If you have not booked yet, browse farmhouses in Moinabad with live dates, and look for listings whose photos show the details you will be checking, like the kitchen and the bedrooms, not just the pool. For the other end of the stay, the checkout checklist is the mirror image of this post, and the cancellation policy page covers what happens if plans change before you reach the gate.